Auxiliary motor-drive mechanism for player pianos



- --March 8, 1927.

' 1,620,484 F. MINUTILLO AUXILIARY MOTOR DRIVE MECHA ISM FOR PLAYER FIANOS Filed Nov. 6, 1924 INVENTOR ffd/zcascofizizufillo in 0,1 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,620,484. PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCESCO MINUTILLQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUXILIARY MOTOR-DRIVE MECHANISM FOR PLAYER Pianos.

Application filed November This invention relates to motor mechanism for player pianos, the invention having for an object the provision of a motor attachment to the usual pedal-operated crank shaft that works the bellows, whereby said crank shaft may be driven by motor.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the-following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a face view of a player piano having my improved attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the attachment.

Referring now to the drawing the reference numeral lOindicates the casing of an ordinary player piano, which hastherein the usual crank shaft 11, operated by the pedals 12, and working the bellows 13, the parts as thus far described being of usual construction. 'My improved attachment comprises a second shaft 15 that is mounted in the casing in suitable bearings 16 and is alined with the shaft 11. These shafts 11.

and 1'5haVe the clutch heads 17 and 18 of usual serrated form mounted on their adjacent ends, these clutch heads being normally separated from one another and'adaptedto be "brought into engagement with one another when the shaft is to be power driven.

The opposite end of the shaft 'to that carrying the clutch head 18 projectsinto a hollow shaft 20 that has a bevel gear 21 fixed on one end and a spur gear 22 fixed on the other end. This spur gear .me 'hes with an. elongated idler gear 23that is supported by-a projection 16 from one of the bearings 16, this idler in turn meshing with an internal gear 24 formed on a drum-'25 freely supported on the shaft 15. This 7 drum contains a clock spring 26, one end of which is attached to the drum as at 27and the other end of which is attached to the shaft 15 asat 28. Reverse rotation of the drum is prevented by means of a pawl 29 mounted on the said projection 16 and bearing on an elongated ratchet wheel 30 fixed to the hollow shaft 20. Rotation of the shaft 15 while the drum is being rotated to wind the spring 26 is prevented by means of a key 32 on the shaft engaging in a groove 33 in one of the bearings 16, A slight lon- 6, 1924. Serial No. 748,044.

gitudinal movement of the shaft 15 to engage its clutch head 18 with the clutch head 17 on the shaft 10 frees the key from the sald groove. The shafts 20 and 15 are held against relative longitudinal movement by means of a pin 3et-fixed in the shaft 20 that projects into a circumferentialgroove 3a in the shaft 15.

The bevel gear 21 on the end of the hollow shaft 20 engages with a like gear 35 on the'lower end of a vertical shaft 36 that has another bevel gear 37 on its upper end meshing with a like gear 38 on the inner end of a stub shaft 39 that projects through the end wall 10 of the casing of the piano, and has a crank handle 40 on its outer end. This shaft 39 is here shown as mounted in a sleeve a2 freely surrounding the shaft, this sleeve being retained against longitudinal movement on the shaft between a collar 4C3 fixed to said shaft and an angular bearing 'member 44. that engages the shafts 36 and 42 adjacent the gears 3'? and 38 and is free for bodily movement toward and away from the wall 10. Fixed on the sleeve 42 is a pin 45 that engages in a groove 46 in the said wall, while the sleeve has an enlarged head or flange 47 on its outer end whereby it may be grasped to be pulled outwardly. A like bearing to the bearing l4, indicated at H engages the lower end of the shaft 36 and the adjacent end of the shaft 20, a

tension spring 49 being attached at opposite ends to this hearing and to the wall 10 of L the piano casing and acting to urge the shaft 15 to a position with the clutch head 18 free from the clutch head 17. The vertical shaft 36 is mounted in a manner to :permit of longitudinal oscillatory moveit as at 53 a collar'54. freely surrounding the shaft 36 and held against longitudinal displacement thereon by the fixed collars 55.

hen it is desired to run the player piano from the spring motor, the crank handle L0 is turned to wind up the motor, the transmission being from the shaft 39 to the shaft 36, from the latter to the hollow shaft 20 and from the latter to the drum 25. After the motor is wound the sleeve to is pulled outwardly and is given a partial turn to retain it in this outward position by engaging the pin 45 with the outer face of the wall \Vhen the sleeve is moved outwardly the shaft 36 is oscillated on its pivoted support 52 and the shafts and 15 will bemoved in an opposite direction with respect to said sleeve to engage the clutch head 18 with the clutch head 1'? on the crank shaft 11, while the key 32 will be freed from the groove 33 permitting the spring 526 to drive the shaft 15. It will be understood of course that sufficient play will be left between the bearings 44, 4e and the shafts engaged thereby to permit of the oscillatory movement of the shaft 36.

' Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows common means for winding said motor and moving the said secondshaft longitudinally.

2. A spring motor, with associated tansmission mechanism, for player pianos, or the like,'comprising a shaft, a second shaft arranged to have a driving relation with the first shaft upon longitudinal movement of said second shaft in one direction, a spring motor for driving said second shaft, and a common means for winding said motor and moving the said second shaft longitudinally, said means including a shaft in operative relation with'said motor for winding the same, said shaft being mounted both for rotary movement and for longitudinal oscillatory movement.

3. A spring motor, with associated transmission mechanism, for player pianos, or the like, comprising a shaft, a second shaft alined with thesaid first shaft,-clutcn heads on the said shafts adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from one another by longitudinal movement of the said second shaft,

a spring motor mounted on said second shaft and comprising a drum and a clock spring attached at opposite ends to the said shaft and the drum, and means for winding said drum, said means being arranged for imparting a longitudinal movement to said second shaft to causethe clutchhe'ad thereon to engage with the clutch head on the first shaft.

4.JA spring motor, withiassociated transmission mechanism, for player pianos, or the like, comprising a shaft, a second shaft alined with the said first shaft, clutch heads on the said shafts adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from one another by longitudinal movement ofthe second shaft, meansnormally retaining the said second shaft against rotation, said means becoming inoperative when the said second shaft is moved into driving relation with the first shaft, a hollow shaft into which the said second shaft projects, a springmotor on said second shaft comprising a drum free on said shaft and a clock spring in said drum having one end attached to said drum and the other end attached to said second shaft, operative connections between said hollow shaft and said drum whereby rotation of said hollow shaft winds said drum, and means for rotating said hollow shaft and for moving the same, and withit the said second shaft, longitudinally to cause the second shaft to operatively engage the firstshaft. .7 l j V.

5. A spring motor, with associated transmission mechanism, for player pianos, or the like, comprising a shaft, a second shaft alined with the said first shaft, clutch heads on the said shafts adaptedvto be engaged with or disengaged from one another by longitudinal movement of the second shaft, means normally retaining thesaid second shaft against rotation, said means becoming lnoperative ,when the said second shaft is moved into :hollow shaft and for moving the same, and with it the said second shaft, longitudinally to cause the second shaft to operatively'engage the first shaft, said means comprising another shaft extending at rightiangles to the first named shafts and having a bevel gear connection with'th'e hollow shaft, means for rotating said last shaft, and means .for mounting said last'shaft to permit of longitudinal' oscillatory movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. l T

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